While Jerusalem is pushing a "serial" or "step-by-step" approach, Washington is urging immediate initiatives by both Palestinians and Israelis.

By Nathan Guttman (Haaretz)
April 15, 2003

In formulating a roadmap to peace in the Middle East, the United States has agreed to take into account Israel's security concerns and a need to end terror, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's envoy said after talks with high-level U.S. officials.

"I am confident the U.S. will give serious consideration to our views as the process moves forward," Dov Weisglass, Sharon's chief of staff, said in a statement late Monday. The statement was issued after Weisglass and other Israeli officials met with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, head of Mideast affairs at the National Security Council Elliott Abrams, and other senior administration officials. At the meeting, Weisglass presented Israel's comments on the roadmap.

The roadmap, which aims to establish a Palestinian state by 2005, is due to be formally announced after Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Ala), the Palestinian Authority's choice for prime minister, sets up a Cabinet.

While Jerusalem is pushing a "serial" or "step-by-step" approach, Washington is urging immediate initiatives by both Palestinians and Israelis.

According to a statement released in the name of Weisglass early Tuesday, "We have provided our initial comments on the roadmap to the U.S. The Americans will consider our comments taking into account the long-standing commitment of the U.S. to the security of the State of Israel and the need to end terror in order to realize peace in the Middle East based on President Bush's speech of June 24th 2002."

Weisglass added: "Israel will have a further chance to comment on the roadmap once it is formally conveyed to the parties. I am confident that U.S. will give serious consideration to our views as the process moves forward."

The administration has not responded officially to the Israeli reservations, which were formulated in 15 separate categories. However, it was already made clear Monday that the Americans do not fully accept these reservations with regard to at least one of the central points - the order of events.

U.S. President George W. Bush is apparently of the opinion that there should be simultaneous momentum at all levels and that when the security situation improves, Israel will have to take steps. These steps will focus on the humanitarian aspect of the peace plan, and the United States is adamant that they should encompass freedom of movement in the territories.

The United States believes that if Israel eases restrictions on movement, the reformist elements in the Palestinian Authority will be able to prove they are improving the lot of the residents and thus to consolidate their position in the new Palestinian leadership.

The American assumption is that there is no need for step to follow step, but rather that after talks with both sides, each will have to examine what can be done to improve the atmosphere and make progress.

Bush considers pushing forward the process to be of the utmost importance. He believes that a new reality has been created in the Middle East in the wake of the war in Iraq and that all sides must act accordingly.

The United States expects Israel to renew its commitment to the idea of a Palestinian state, and with this in mind, the administration Monday expressed satisfaction concerning Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's remarks to Haaretz about painful concessions.

On the other hand, the U.S. administration expects the Palestinians to push forward with reforms and to isolate those who object to them.

While America does not accept Israel's step-by-step approach, it is convinced that the Palestinians must prove the seriousness of their actions against the terrorists as a condition for progress. The litmus test will be in the field and in the powers given to the new PA prime minister and interior minister over the security forces.

So far, the Americans have not responded to the Israeli request that the Palestinians forgo - at the very start of negotiations - their demand for the right of return for refugees.

There is no indication that the Bush administration will stray from the policy of its predecessors, which maintained that the issue should be raised only in the final stage and should not be a prior condition for negotiations.

Speaking Monday at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Israel's National Security Advisor Ephraim Halevy said that from the strategic point of view, there is significance to territories even in an age of guided missiles and other sophisticated weapons, adding that the war in Iraq had proved the importance of territorial depth from the military point of view. In the long run, however, Halevy said, borders will lose their significance if there is peace.

Throughout its history, Halevy said, Israel had been ready to make territorial concessions, but the Arabs had refused. Only if the Palestinians were to show that they were indeed willing to compromise would it now become clear if there would be peace in the Middle East, he added.